South India Ranked Among World's Best Food Regions: Where Travellers Must Eat

TasteAtlas, the popular food and travel guide, recently unveiled its year-end list of the best food regions in the world. "Southern India" was collectively ranked 40th overall. No other Indian destination was featured among the top 50, although West Bengal, Maharashtra and Kerala made it to the top 100. This is not the first time South Indian food has received global recognition in recent times. Last month, travel guide Lonely Planet listed Kerala's culinary culture as one of the world's best experiences for the year ahead.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TasteAtlas (@tasteatlas)

Given the burgeoning global interest in this part of India, we have curated a special list of recommendations for travellers seeking to explore its flavours:

A Traveller's Guide To South Indian Cuisines

TAMIL NADU

Tamil Nadu's food culture spans several distinct sub-regional styles: Chettinad (spice-heavy masalas and robust meat dishes), Kongu Nadu (millets, lentils, ghee-led flavours), Tanjavur-Cauvery Delta (rice meals, sambars, gravies), the Madurai region (street-style non-veg dishes, parottas, dosas) and temple cuisine (prasadam-style meals with minimal spices). What makes the state unique is how structured vegetarian meals, fiery meat dishes, and a vast tiffin repertoire coexist across districts.

Must-Try Tamil Dishes:

• Idli with sambar/chutney
• Ghee roast dosa
• Chettinad chicken/pepper chicken
• Ambur or Dindigul biryani
• Mutton chukka
• Pongal
• Kara/puli kuzhambu
• Kothu parotta
• Filter coffee

Best Destinations For Foodies In Tamil Nadu:

1. Chennai: The best gateway to Tamil cuisine, from idli-dosa institutions and old-school messes to seafood joints and modern regional restaurants. Neighbourhoods like Mylapore and Triplicane in Chennai offer timeless classics, while newer venues experiment with lesser-known Tamil traditions.
2. Madurai: A city known for parottas, mutton dishes and bustling street stalls. Its late-night eating joints let travellers experience the city's flavours the way locals do.
3. Karaikudi/Chettinad region: The heart of Chettinad cuisine, where traditional spice blends and heirloom cooking methods continue to thrive. Meals here feel slower, richer and deeply tied to local ingredients.

Also Read: 7 Indian Cities Where Food Is The Real Reason To Travel

KERALA

Kerala's flavours vary across Malabar (Moplah biryanis, breads like pathiri), central Kerala (Syrian Christian stews and roasts), southern Kerala (coconut-based vegetarian meals and seafood), and more. The state's cuisine stands apart for its coconut use, spice routes heritage and strong Arab, Portuguese and Christian influences.

Must-Try Keralite Delicacies:

• Malabar biryani
• Karimeen pollichathu
• Fish moilee
• Kappa Meen Curry
• Appam with stew
• Puttu and kadala curry
• Kerala parotta with roast
• Kerala Sadya (collection of dishes)
• Toddy (a traditional alcoholic drink)

Best Destinations For Foodies In Kerala:

1. Kozhikode (Calicut): Known for Moplah food, biryanis and its famous halwa shops. Beachside stalls and bakeries make it easy for travellers to explore North Kerala's coastal flavours.
2. Kochi: This exciting South Indian city offers excellent Syrian Christian dishes, seafood specials and creative new-age Kerala restaurants. Its backwaters and markets deepen the experience.
3. Thiruvananthapuram: Ideal for travellers seeking authentic vegetarian meals, especially traditional Sadyas. The city's coastal influences are also reflected in its simple, fresh seafood preparations.

KARNATAKA

Karnataka's cuisine shifts dramatically across regions: Udupi (vegetarian temple-linked dishes), Mangalore/Karavali (seafood, coconut, Tulu and Catholic influences), Malnad (foraged greens, bamboo shoots), Coorg/Kodagu (pork-rich mountain cuisine), and the Bengaluru-Mysuru tiffin belt. The state's diversity lies in its balance between delicate vegetarian cooking and full-bodied coastal and meat-based traditions.

Must-Try Dishes In Karnataka

• Mysore masala dosa
• Bisi bele bath
• Mangalorean fish curry
• Kori rotti
• Neer dosa
• Pork pandi curry
• Ragi mudde with saaru
• Mangalore chicken ghee roast
• Udupi sambar and rasam
• Mangalore Buns

Best Destinations For Foodies In Karnataka:

_{Coorg. Photo Credit: Unsplash}

1. Bengaluru: A melting pot of Karnataka cuisines, offering legendary tiffin houses, military hotels and modern regional restaurants. The city gives travellers a state-wide tasting tour.
2. Mangaluru: Perfect for seafood lovers with its fish curries, ghee roast, kori rotti and Catholic community dishes. Its markets and seaside restaurants highlight the spice-forward flavours of the coast.
3. Coorg (Madikeri): Known for Kodava dishes built around pork, wild herbs and local greens. Plantation homestays provide an intimate lens into this mountain cuisine.

ANDHRA PRADESH

Andhra Pradesh's food landscape includes Coastal Andhra (seafood, tamarind-based curries, gongura), Rayalaseema (fiery, chilli-heavy cooking) and Uttarandhra (milder, coconut-based dishes). The cuisine is recognised for its liberal use of Guntur chillies and bold flavours, yet offers many balanced coastal options as well.

Must-Try Andhra Dishes:

• Gongura mutton
• Chicken or fish pulusu
• Pesarattu
• Royyala vepudu (prawns)
• Pulihora
• Ulavacharu
• Bobbatlu
• Nellore fish curry
• Andhra biryani

Best Destinations For Foodies In Andhra Pradesh:

Visakhapatnam. Photo Credit: Unsplash

1. Vijayawada: Known for biryanis, chilli chicken and hearty Andhra meals. Its energetic restaurants and strong tiffin culture make it a flavour-packed stop for travellers.
2. Visakhapatnam (Vizag): A scenic coastal city with excellent seafood curries, prawn fries and local thalis. Beachside stalls and fish markets bring coastal Andhra cooking to life.
3. Guntur: The chilli capital, ideal for those who like bold, spicy flavours. Local establishments serve curries, pickles and snacks shaped by the region's famous Guntur chillies.

Also Read: 7 Offbeat South Indian Destinations for Peaceful, Crowd-Free Travel

TELANGANA

Telangana cuisine includes two broad pillars: regional Telangana fare (millet-based rotis, earthy curries, festival snacks) and Hyderabadi Nizami cuisine (Persian-influenced biryanis, kebabs, qormas, festive desserts). Together, they represent a mix of rustic comfort and royal indulgence.

Must-Try Dishes In Telangana

• Hyderabadi biryani
• Haleem
• Patthar ka gosht
• Nihari
• Sarva pindi
• Jonna rotte with curries
• Sakinalu
• Telangana mutton curry
• Double ka meetha/qubani ka meetha
• Hyderabadi kebabs

Best Destinations For Foodies In Telangana:

1. Hyderabad: The heart of Telangana food, famous for biryani, kebabs and classic Indo-Persian dishes. Its mix of old restaurants and lively food streets makes it a paradise for travellers.
2. Warangal: Ideal for tasting traditional Telangana thalis with millet rotis, local greens and rustic curries. The food here offers an earthy counterpart to Hyderabad's royal cuisine.
3. Nizamabad: Known for roti-led meals and slow-cooked mutton dishes that define rural Telangana cooking. Travellers encounter flavours and techniques rarely found in metro cities.

The above guide presents a broad categorisation of regional South Indian cuisines meant as an introduction for travellers unfamiliar with its offerings. It is just a starting point - like the rest of the country, South India is known for its diversity of flavours and not all of it can be captured on a list.

It's also important to keep in mind that many dishes are not restricted to one state or region, but vary across South India. For instance, the way sambar is made in Kerala is not exactly similar to the way it is cooked in Karnataka. These differences are also what make foodie adventures across these destinations so rewarding: you might find more reasons to appreciate the same dish or find new favourite combinations. There is so much to discover... so you'd better plan your trip soon!